What is Islam?

Islam simply means to achieve peace. Peace with God, peace with oneself, and peace with the creations of God – through wholly giving oneself to God and accepting His guidance.

Islam is not a new religion but the final culmination and fulfillment of the same basic truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. A way of life symbolized by peace-peace with God, peace within oneself, and peace with the creations of God through submission to God and commitment to His guidance.
Muslims believe that it is the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is not just a personal religion, but a complete way of life.

Islam is a qualitative term – the quality of accepting God’s supreme authority above one’s own. As such, being a Muslim does not mean having to give up one’s culture or traditions; rather it means adopting the simple and logical principles of Islam to better one’s life and attain peace.

What are the pillars of Islam? Testimony
The “five pillars” of Islam are the basis of Muslim life. Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:

“Islam is founded on five pillars: to testify that ‘there is no deity except God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God;’ to establish the ritual prayers; to give charity (to the needy); to perform the pilgrimage to the house (of worship in Makkah); and to fast during the month of Ramadan.”

A practicing Muslim’s life is centered on these pillars. The first and foremost of these is the testimony. “There is no deity except God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

This simple declaration of faith is required of all those who accept Islam as their chosen way of life. The words have to be uttered with sincere conviction and under no coercion. The significance of this testimony is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God; and this is achieved through following the example of Prophet Muhammad.

Muslims believe that throughout history, God sent His chosen messengers to guide humankind. The testimony that these prophets taught was similar. The first commandment found in the Bible is “I am the Lord, thy God; thou shalt not have other gods before Me.” This belief in the Oneness of God is central to Islam and permeates all of Muslim life.
What are the pillars of Islam? Pilgrimage The pilgrimage to Makkah (the hajj) is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who are physically and financially able. Over two million people, from all corners of the globe, go for hajj each year making it the largest gathering for peace. Hajj provides a unique opportunity for people from different nations to meet one another.

The annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year. The Islamic year is lunar, consequently Hajj occurs throughout all seasons during one’s lifetime.

Pilgrims enter a state of sacredness where arguing and fighting, cutting a plant or even harming a fly is prohibited. They wear simple garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.

The rites of the Hajj go back to Abraham and his family. They include visiting the Kabah and standing together on the wide plains of Arafat (a large expanse of desert outside Makkah). Here pilgrims pray for God’s forgiveness, in what is often considered a preview of the Day of Judgment. The Hajj provides a unique opportunity for Muslims to reflect on their lives, to refocus on God, and to return to their families and homes spiritually rejuvenated.

The close of the Hajj is marked by the Festival of the Sacrifice, Eid al Adha. Pilgrims sacrifice a sheep or goat, commemorating Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his own son. The sacrificial meat is distributed to the needy. Muslims around the world celebrate this day with prayers, ritual sacrifice, and an exchange of gifts. More on the Hajj here .

What are the pillars of Islam? Fasting Fasting in the month of Ramadan is an essential part of being a Muslim. Muslims fast from dawn until sundown-abstaining from food and drink, and guarding themselves from destructive behavior.

Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and a women who are pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. Children begin to fast (and to observe prayers) from puberty, although many start earlier.

God stated in the Quran: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may achieve greater awareness (of God)” (Quran 2:183)

Fasting is not only beneficial to heath, but it also allows one to truly empathize with those less fortunate. However, fasting is mainly a method of self-purification and self-restraint. By cutting oneself from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person focuses on his or her purpose in life by constantly being aware of God.

Ramadan is a special time for Muslims everywhere; a time for reflection and greater spirituality. The end of Ramadan is observed by a holiday- Eid al Fitr. On this day, Muslims all over the world celebrates with prayers and an exchange of gifts.

What are the pillars of Islam? Zakah or Almsgiving
An important principle of Islam is that every thing belongs to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word ‘zakah’ means both “purification” and “growth”. Setting aside a proportion for those in need purifies our possessions, and like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

What are the pillars of Islam? Prayer A key element of Muslim life is the obligatory, ritual prayer. These prayers are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. This very personal relationship with the Creator allows one to fully depend, trust and love God; and to truly achieve inner peace and harmony, regardless of the trials one face.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, when one of you prays, he speaks privately with his Lord.”

Prayers are performed at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and nightfall; reminding one of God throughout the day. Regular prayer helps prevent destructive deeds and gives one opportunity to seek God’s pardon for any misgivings.

The Prophet once asked his companions: “Do you think if there was a river by the door and one of you bathed in it five times a day; would there remain any dirt on him?” The Prophet’s companions answered in the negative. The Prophet then said: “That is how it is with the five (daily) prayers; through them God washes away your sins.”

Friday is the day of congregation for Muslims. The mid-day prayer on Friday is different from all other prayers in that it includes a sermon. Prayers at other times are relatively simple; they include verses from the Quran and take only a few minutes to complete.

Muslims are greatly encouraged to perform their five daily prayers in congregation, and in a Mosque. A Mosque, in its most basic form, is simply a clean area designated for prayers. Mosques throughout the world have taken on various architectural forms, reflecting local cultures. They range from detached pavilions in China to elaborate courtyards in India ; from massive domes in Turkey to glass and steel structures in the United States . However, one unique and very obvious feature remains-the “call to prayer.”

The first person to call Muslims to prayer was a freed African slave from Abyssinia , Bilal ibn Rabah. He was a beloved companion of Prophet Muhammad, whose rich and melodious voice called the Muslims of Madinah to prayer five times a day.

A translation of the call to prayer (Athan) is:

Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great;
Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great.
I testify there is no deity except Allah;
I testify there is no deity except Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah;
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success! Come to success!
Allah is the Most Great! Allah is the Most Great!
There is no deity except Allah.

Comments

Islam is a bunch of law that Muhammad created according to Arab needs , and father and mother fix the religion to there kids brain system with out kids knowing that what all this about , and kids know all about Islam and God in age of 18 , i means when the boy and girl start to know them self . other ways to day we have more sophisticated system and law that can run society greater them Islam . islam lose ground to sience and humen knowledge and no more use full . no misunderstanding that dealing with God is different thinks then accepting the Islam .

ok since u have changed ur name and with that name u have also changed the way of ur talking which is more civilized then i would go and talk to u in this manner lets keep things civilized i would like u to take a look at these 2 vidoes and i would like ur comments on these then we well move on and i well present my case to u
so lets hear a prof of embryology and what does he say about the quran and the science of quran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx434UE3SYw

loooolz
the things that u call kharafat
u need to have a look at it
watch that video i dare you
and i dare u to refute these video
u open ur mouth and talk from ur stomach
but u never mentioned a single thing about these video
loook u ignorant moron
this is not about me this is about my religion and come and refute this vidoe simple if u cant then its better u shut it
cuz nothing good is coming out of u loooooolz

when you present Islam and Muhammad and Taliban and all Islamic law and order and quraan here . . with your abusing attitude may every one try to shit to Islam and Islamic law and order and Taliban and may even shit those who grow you up like your f** father and Randi mom .. all are disrespect it and abuse it openly .

abuse language???????
bitchhh go and read who started it
any one who has a slight clue can go and read who has started it
i am not gonna be the one who well back from insulting when u insult my religion ucz u are bitch and the bitch only knows how to bark and the best answer is taht u throw a bone to them so here come and get my bone lolz

Mikiawoli, u did disappeared after i send u pm, and now u came back and start singing the same old song. you only make people angry when you talk like that about our faith, and beside, in your last msg you told me that your also moslim …..... then what is this??? if you was an moslim you could never say anything like that against your faith and our prophets pbuh.

i am not makia i am southia from “said karm” of “gardiz – city” of Afghanistan . this man always talk bad and insulting every one in this web sit to name of Islam and Taliban and no one answer him . when he abusing my country and my people to name of Islam then i accept the hell fire and i kick to as of any of he is leader from mullah Omar till Muhammad who give weapon to he is mind and he is hand to kill my people to name of any things . at lease should be same one stand against this animal to save the country or not . . ? you no need to help me . . i know you afraid of hell fair and losings the paradise , but not me i no need a shame full paradise who sister and brother openly making love in said law and order of God territory . tight the rob of this dog and i well shut my mouth .

ok first, who ever you are, if you have a problem with someone, then go and solve it, don’t need to curse like that in public form. and again, khodaro shokr, we all are moslims here , so next time please think before you say something about our faith or prophets pbuh. And is very week of you that you try to hurt another person with someone that did passed away, khoda biamorzeh.

merjan
she doesnt understand that
i know and i know she likes to bark and i love to make her bark
its anotehr story that she is not close or i dont know where she is but i just wish i wish once i find her
but dont worry i am close inshallah

its the same person
as mikiwali
i have traced her from long time now
she had the same name in some other websites which i wont mention
and she is not even an afghan that is for sure
the search continues

i am with you zabrina jaan
i know for sure that they are both ppl
thats for sureeee there is no way that some one says they are 2 different ppl and i would believe them
unless 2 ppl are so much a like that they use the same ip? lol impossible